South Dakota has a new law that will prohibit the use of public tax dollars for researching or purchasing cultivated meats.

Rep. Jana Hunt, R-Dupree, introduced the bill, HB 1118, in South Dakota’s House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. It was signed into law by Gov. Larry Rhoden and goes into effect July 1.

“I’m grateful for the unanimous backing from my colleagues in both the House and Senate. As elected officials, it is our duty to serve the people of South Dakota and ensure responsible stewardship of their hard-earned tax dollars,” Hunt said.

Hunt also credited the lobbying group, The Beef Initiative, non-governmental organization dedicated to food security through local access, for providing testimony during the legislative process.

South Dakota is one of a growing number of states where the legislatures have taken efforts to place restrictions on cultivated meat to protect their own animal agriculture interests. Other states to do so include Florida, Alabama and Nebraska.

In Nebraska, the bill defines “cultivated food protein” and requires those products to be labeled “adulterated food products” under the state’s Pure Food Act. The purpose of the bill is to keep cultivated meat from being manufactured, distributed or sold in the state. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay, N-Niobrara.

In Alabama, a bill has been signed into law to outlaw the production and sale of cultivated meat. Alabama is the second state with such a law.

The Alabama law makes it “unlawful for any person to manufacture sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute any cultivated food product” in Alabama. According to the text of the bill, “cultivated food product” is defined as any food product produced from cultured animal cells.

In May 2024 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that bans the creation and sale of cultivated meat in the state. It was the first state to do so.

The new law makes it “unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cultivated meat in this state.” 

The Florida law criminalizes activities involving cultured meat, with people found to be violating it guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor.

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